EDITORIAL
Well done Election Code Task Force
Special thanks go to the Associated Students Inc. Election Codes Task Force, who remained active during winter break to tie up loose ends in CSUS' election process which became painfully evident in last spring's elections.
Last Wednesday, the task force presented its suggested amendments to the board of directors as a discussion item. It will not face a vote until the following board meeting on Feb. 11.
Overall, the proposed changes to the codes were well received by both the board of directors and members of the audience. Even sections or ideas that were questioned were followed up with well-thought-out and realistic solutions that obviously had the best interests of the CSUS students at heart.
Later, David Shorey, a member of the Appellate Council, which awarded incumbent candidate Sandra Schlemmer the ASI presidency, admitted he feared this legislation might have easily re-opened unhealed wounds from last year's election three-ring circus.
Shorey said this was not the case and, a few details aside, was the first to praise the work of the task force.
While the specific options for the more controversial code changes were unavailable at press time, the State Hornet must admit we are impressed with the path the election code legislation has taken. If the board's next discussion on Feb. 11 is a repeat of this last meeting's performance, then the Hornet is confident the end result will be something worth framing.
The Soapbox
It's time for ASI to do what's right
By John Montgomery
Where to begin ... Well, I could start this out in typical American fashion -- I was born in a log cabin, walked 400 miles to school in the middle of the winter (in my bare feet of course), killed me a 'baar' when I was only 3 (of course not wearing the fur and donating the meat to a worthy cause) -- but why not be a little bit different and just tell you who I am and why I am here?
This is the first in what I hope is a weekly column in the State Hornet. What am I going to write about? This is where it might get a little tricky. I have no set theme, no specific agenda to follow or to advocate for or against, so what you will find in this space every Tuesday is primarily what I find to be unusual, interesting, outstanding or just plain stupid.
I think it's only fair that you, the reader, have some idea of where I am coming from when you take the time to read my ramblings. I am older than the average CSUS student, being on the cusp of 45, and have been married twice, so I am an expert on how not to have a good relationship.
My politics are a mixture of social libertarianism and conservative fiscal policy. In other words, I want any and all governmental bodies out of my life and out of my wallet. But I am a strong believer in the idea the governments are put in place to help those among us who need a hand and to do those things private citizens cannot do. What those things are is subject to change and based on how many beers I have had that day.
This brings me to today's topic -- namely, our fearless Associated Students Inc. board of directors.
Last November, in this newspaper, an article was presented for the readers' edification, stating the fact that five members of the current board -- Jaya Kapoor, Kim Shaw, Devin Cook, Dan Freschi and Jennifer Mathis -- were appointed to their positions in violation of the board's operating rules.
The rules called for the board to advertise any board vacancies in the campus newspaper before the ASI president recommends candidates to fill the vacancies. Last year, in a laudable effort to streamline the process, the positions were filled not by advertising as required in the operating rules, but after sending a notice out in the schedule confirmations.
A good idea. However, the board, in its haste, never bothered to change its operating rules to allow it to do so.
Both Sandra Schlemmer, the ASI president, and Carol Ackerson, the ASI executive director, said they had been assured by Shirley Uplinger, the vice president for Student Affairs, that the whole process was kosher. But Uplinger, in conversations with myself and in a letter to the State Hornet, said she never gave, and could not give, approval for ASI not to follow its own bylaws. Uplinger also said it was up to the board to deal with the situation.
So, board members, I am calling for you to address the situation. Stand up and show CSUS that the students are really first. In my mind, and all my research would seem to back me up, the five board members who were appointed in violation of the ASI operating rules are serving in their posts illegally. Any and all the votes the five have cast since being seated have been invalid and any legislation or resolutions where those votes provided the majority are null and void.
Schlemmer should begin the process again, this time in compliance with the operating rules, and fill the vacancies. If she wants to reappoint the five to their posts, and the elected and legally appointed members of the board agree, fine. The primary focus of the whole exercise must be to ensure the integrity of the process. There is nothing wrong with trying to streamline and improve the process, but the board must realize that it, too, must follow the rules. Just like the rest of us.
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